Undergraduate
Diploma of Health Care/Bachelor of Nursing
Applicants applying who are health care professionals with AHPRA registration (for example Diploma of Nursing qualifications) must apply for SATAC code 104841 for Casuarina Campus and Online or 164081 for Sydney Campus.
The Diploma of Health Care/Bachelor of Nursing is a combined course that will see you graduate with two qualifications in the same time it takes to complete one.
The Diploma of Health Care is integrated into the Bachelor of Nursing and will be awarded after your first year of study, which means you'll hold a qualification and can start working in the health sector while you finish your degree.
The Bachelor of Nursing is a professionally-accredited degree and will qualify you to work as a Registered Nurse (Division 1) in Australia. It is recognised as as an approved program of study recognised by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia.
Practical Training
In order to complete the Bachelor of Nursing and qualify as a Registered Nurse, you're required to undertake two types of practical training: simulation blocks and supervised clinical placements.
You will complete three one-week simulation blocks (one for each year of study). These must be completed full-time and on campus at one of CDU's many simulation suites located across Australia. We have a simulation suite in Darwin, Alice Springs, Sydney, Melbourne or Perth.
You will also complete 880 hours of supervised clinical placements across the three years of the course. These will take place in a variety of healthcare settings. If you're studying a Bachelor of Nursing online with CDU, we will endeavour to organise placements close to your home.
As Bachelor of Nursing student, you may also have the opportunity to broaden your global outlook with additional international study tours and exchanges.
English Language Requirements
In order to register as a nurse or midwife in Australia, you're required to meet the English language requirements laid out by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia. This applies to all initial registrations, regardless of whether they qualified in Australia or overseas. Find out more: the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) at www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/.
Safe Practice
In order to study nursing and practice safely, you will need to have an inherent set of qualities. Nursing needs a degree of physical strength and mobility, endurance, communication and cognitive abilities. If you feel you may experience challenges in meeting these requirements, you are encouraged discuss these with the Bachelor of Nursing Course Coordinator before enrolling in the course.
Reporting Obligations
Under the national Health Practitioner Regulation National Law, CDU is required to register nursing students with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and to notify AHPRA if a student has or develops a health impairment that may place the public at substantial risk of harm. More information from the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) at www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/.
Course transfer into the Bachelor of Nursing is not permitted. Students who wish to transfer into this course must follow the application process.
Professional recognition
Graduates of this course are eligible to apply for registration with the Health Licensing Authority (Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia).
Credit transfers and pathways
Pathways for VET to Higher Education
Guaranteed credit transfer arrangements are available to students commencing a bachelor degree at Charles Darwin University with completed Certificate IV, Diploma, Advanced Diploma or Associate Degree qualifications in the same field or discipline. Students who hold completed qualifications should refer to the additional information provided about Advanced Standing and Credit Transfer and Pathways using the links below:
Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education
For information about credit transfer available to students with complete or incomplete study at this or other Institutions refer to Pathways for Higher Education to Higher Education
For further information on credit transfer and how to apply visit ASK CDU
International applications
Applications must be submitted online through our application portal, Studylink. You'll need a valid email address to create your online account. Once you have started your application, you will be able to save it and resume it later. There is no application fee when you apply online.
You may be able to lodge a direct application; however, there may be restrictions on your geographic location. If you cannot submit a direct application via the application portal, please apply through one of our registered agents.
Apply through StudyLink or through an Agent.
International applicants currently studying year 12 in Australia should apply via SATAC or UAC.
Student profile
The table below gives an indication of the likely peer cohort for new students in this course. It provides data on students that commenced this course and passed the census date in Semester 1, 2021.
| Applicant background (Semester one intake 2021) | No. of Students | % of all Students |
|---|---|---|
| A. Higher education study (includes a bridging or enabling course) |
6 | 67.0 |
| B. Vocational education and training (VET) study | <5 | N/P |
| C. Work and life experience (Admitted on the basis of previous achievement not in the other three categories) |
<5 | N/P |
D. Recent secondary education
(regardless of whether this includes the consideration of adjustment factors such as equity or subject bonus points) |
<5 | N/P |
(e.g. portfolio, audition, extra offer conditional on minimum ATAR) |
<5 | N/P |
(e.g. special consideration, audition alone, schools recommendation scheme with no minimum ATAR requirement) |
<5 | N/P |
| International students | <5 | N/P |
| All students | 9 | 100.0 |
Notes
"<5" - the number of students is less than 5
N/A - Students not accepted in this category
N/P - Not published: the number is hidden to prevent calculation of numbers in cells with less than 5 students.
Accreditation
This course is accredited by the University in accordance with the Higher Education Standards.
Additional information
Australian qualification framework
This course is recognised in the Australian Qualifications Framework at Level 7.
Contact details
For further information about the course, enrolment procedures, closing dates and other administrative issues please contact Student Central on:
Admission criteria
Admission requirements are met by one of the following:
- Successful completion of the Northern Territory Certificate of Education and Training (or equivalent) and the awarding of an Australian Tertiary Admissions Rank (ATAR) of at least 60*.
- Successful completion of a national qualification at Certificate III level or higher.
- Successful completion of at least 0.5 year of full-time study (or equivalent) of a higher education degree/diploma.
- Overseas secondary or tertiary qualifications considered equivalent to the above Australian qualifications.
- Attainment of a STAT Multiple Choice score of 135 (or a score of 145 if prior to May 2010).
- Successful completion of the Tertiary Enabling Prograqm, the Preparation for Tertiary Success courses, or other recognised tertiary preparation course.
- Submission of an acceptable personal competencies statement and/or employment experience.
*After any applicable adjustment factors have been applied.
Applicants applying who are health care professionals with AHPRA registration (for example Diploma of Nursing qualifications) must apply for the WNUR01 Bachelor of Nursing, and apply using either SATAC code 104841 or UAC code 590600 for Casuarina Campus and Online, or SATAC code 164081 or UAC code 590113 for Sydney Campus.
Additional admission requirements
Nursing students must meet a specific level of English language proficiency before they start in a course.
You can show English language proficiency by:
- completing a declaration that English is your primary language, or
- sitting an English language proficiency test.
All applicants are required to meet the English Language Skills Registration Standard as outlined by the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia (NMBA) at www.nursingmidwiferyboard.gov.au/.
Applicants will be required to submit the following via their UAC/SATAC application to demonstrate they meet the above standard prior to being included in offer rounds in one of the following ways:
1. PRIMARY LANGUAGE PATHWAY:
A signed English Language Declaration indicating the following:
- English is their primary language; and
- They have attended and satisfactorily completed at least six years of primary and secondary education taught and assessed solely in English in a recognised country*, including at least two years between years 7 and 12.
*Recognised countries: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom, and USA.
OR
2. ENGLISH LANGUAGE TEST PATHWAY
Applicants have achieved and can supply evidence of the required minimum scores in one of the following English language tests:
- IELTS (Academic) Minimum Scores
Band score of 7.0 in all bands
(IELTS Indicator test is not accepted) - TOEFL Minimum Scores
Internet-based: total score of 94 with a minimum of 27 in Writing, 23 in Speaking and 24 in Reading and Listening
(TOEFL Home edition test is not accepted) - Pearson Test of English (Academic) Minimum Scores
Overall score of 65 AND Skills profile of 65 in Writing, Speaking, Reading and Listening - Occupational English Test (OET)
A minimum result of B/score of 350 in each of the four components (listening, reading, writing and speaking).
TOEFL Home edition and IELTS Indicator tests are not accepted for entry to Nursing and Midwifery courses
Essential requirements
To gain entry into Charles Darwin University, all Higher Education applicants must satisfy the University's English Language Proficiency Requirements for their chosen course of study. International applicants will be required to supply evidence of this at the time of application.
The minimum English language requirement for this course is met by either:
- providing a declaration that English is your primary language and you have attended and satisfactorily completed at least six (6) years of continuous education that is equivalent to secondary education taught and assessed in English in one of the recognised countries*, including at least two years between years 7 and 12.
(*recognised countries include Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland, South Africa, United Kingdom or United States of America) - undertaking one of the following English language tests and obtaining the minimum requirements listed below.
| IELTS Academic Module | A minimum overall score of 7.0 with no band less than 7.0. |
| Cambridge Advanced English (CAE) | Test not accepted for this course. |
| Common European Framework Certificate of English Proficiency | Test not accepted for this course. |
| Pearson Test of English (PTE) Academic module | A minimum overall pass of 65 and 65 across all modules (reading, writing, speaking and listening). |
| TOEFL Internet-based Test (iBT) | A minimum overall score of 94 and a minimum 24 for listening, 24 for reading, 27 for writing and 23 for speaking. |
* All tests are valid for two years from the date of the test to the date of commencement at CDU, unless otherwise specified.
* Where applicable, international applicants must also satisfy the Department of Home Affairs (DHA) English language requirements for student visa applications.
Do you have a question regarding English requirements at CDU? Please email: international@cdu.edu.au.
Pre-clinical requirements:
You must provide proof that you have met all university and State/Territory pre-clinical requirements before starting clinical placements. These requirements include, but are not limited to:
- immunisation requirements
- Senior First Aid qualification
- annual criminal record checks
- working with children clearances
- fitness-to-practice requirements
ATAR profile
The following table represents the ATAR and selection rank profile for applicants offered a place on the basis of their ATAR in semester 1, 2021
| ATAR based offers only | ATAR (excluding adjustment factors) |
Selection Rank (ATAR plus any adjustment factors) |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest rank to receive an offer | <5 | <5 |
| Median rank to receive an offer | <5 | <5 |
| Highest rank to receive an offer | <5 | <5 |
Notes
"<5" indicates less than 5 ATAR-based offers were made.
Course structure
Twenty-one (21) compulsory core units provide students with essential knowledge that underpins a population health and person-centred approach to nursing practice when caring for people with acute and chronic health problems. The specialist elective unit provides greater depth of knowledge and allows students to study a generalised or specialty subjects in which they have a specific interest.
- 2022 HE unit offerings and unit fees are not yet available however will be published no later than 1 December 2021.
- Always refer to the Course Catalogue for the latest information about your course prior to enrolment.
A candidate must successfully complete units totalling 240 credit points (cp) as detailed below. All units are valued at 10 credit points unless indicated.
| Unit type | Credit Points | Specific requirements |
| Diploma of Health Care Core Units (8 units) | 80cp | Compulsory Core units totalling 80 credit points as detailed below.
NUR135 Primary Health Care (replaces NUR115 from 2021) |
| Bachelor of Nursing Core Units (13 units) |
160cp | Compulsory Core units totalling 160 credit points as detailed below.
NUR252 Digital Technology in Healthcare |
| 240cp | Total Credit Points |
Students who commenced in or after 2013
No more than 20 credit points shall be counted with a grade of "PC" in a Bachelor AQF Level 7 course award and no more than 10 credit points at "PC" may be received at the highest level of the program of learning.
Of the total 240 credit points: (unless specified in the specific course structure above)
* not more than 100 credit points may be taken from 100 level units
* a minimum of 60 credit points must be taken from 300 level units or above
Students should refer to the current Grading Policy and Common Course Rules for further information.
Study plan
- 2022 HE unit offerings and unit fees are not yet available however will be published no later than 1 December 2021.
- Always refer to the Course Catalogue for the latest information about your course prior to enrolment.
Students Commencing in Semester 1
The Recommended Study Plans provided below are suitable for students commencing in semester 1 and enrolling in a standard FULL-TIME or PART-TIME load.
It is recommended students follow one of the recommended plans below.
- seek advice from the Course Coordinator if you need to deviate from one of the recommended plans; and
- always check the assumed knowledge and pre-requisite unit requirements for each unit as some 200 and 300 level units assume you have completed foundation unit/s in the subject area at a lower level. 200 level units have the unit code which includes a number starting with 200 i.e. NUR252.
- regularly check your academic progress in your CDU MyStudentInfo account.
| Legend: | CO = Core Unit | SE = Specialist Elective | PR = Practical Required |
1(a) FULL-TIME
NUR257 and NUR258 are co-requisites – students must enrol in both units for the same study period
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| SBI171 Anatomy and Physiology 1 | CO | SBI172 Anatomy and Physiology 2 | CO |
| NUR130 Introduction to Health and Wellbeing* | CO | NUR133 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health | CO |
| NUR131 Professional Practice | CO | NUR135 Primary Health Care (replaces NUR115 from 2021) | CO |
| NUR132 Communication for Person-centred Practice | CO | NUR134 Professional Experience Placement 1** | PR |
| Year 2 | |||
| NUR252 Digital Technology in Healthcare | CO | NUR256 Research and Evidence Based Practice | CO |
| SBI242 Pharmacology for Clinical Practice | CO | NUR257 Professional Experience Placement 2** | PR |
| SBI241 Pathophysiology for Healthcare | CO | NUR258 Mental Health** (20cp) | PR |
| NUR255 Challenges to Health and Wellbeing* | CO | ||
| Year 3 | |||
| NUR366 Complex Care (20cp)* | CO | NUR369 Nursing Practice Project | CO |
| NUR367 Leadership for Nursing Practice | CO | NUR370 Professional Experience Placement 4** | PR |
| NUR368 Global Health: Social Justice and Sustainability | CO | NUR410 Professional Experience Placement 5** (20cp) | PR |
* Simulation block: Students are required to attend a 32 hour (4 days) on-campus simulation block as a part of this unit.
** Work Integrated Learning: Students are required to attend the clinical placement hours as allocated by CDU Placement Office.
1(b) PART-TIME
NUR257 and NUR258 are co-requisites – students must enrol in both units for the same study period
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| SBI171 Anatomy and Physiology 1 | CO | SBI172 Anatomy and Physiology 2 | CO |
| NUR131 Professional Practice | CO | NUR133 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health | CO |
| Year 2 | |||
| NUR132 Communication for Person-centred Practice | CO | NUR135 Primary Health Care (replaces NUR115 from 2021) | CO |
| NUR130 Introduction to Health and Wellbeing* | CO | NUR134 Professional Experience Placement 1** | PR |
| Year 3 | |||
| NUR252 Digital Technology in Healthcare | CO | NUR256 Research and Evidence Based Practice | CO |
| SBI241 Pathophysiology for Healthcare | CO | SBI242 Pharmacology for Clinical Practice | CO |
| Year 4 | |||
| NUR255 Challenges to Health and Wellbeing* | CO | NUR257 Professional Experience Placement 2** | PR |
| NUR258 Mental Health** (20cp) | PR | ||
| Year 5 | |||
| NUR366 Complex Care* (20cp) | CO | NUR369 Nursing Practice Project | CO |
| NUR370 Professional Experience Placement 4** | PR | ||
| Year 6 | |||
| NUR367 Leadership for Nursing Practice | CO | NUR410 Professional Experience Placement 5** (20cp) | PR |
| NUR368 Global Health: Social Justice and Sustainability | CO | ||
* Simulation block: Students are required to attend a 32 hour (4 days) on-campus simulation block as a part of this unit.
** Work Integrated Learning: Students are required to attend the clinical placement hours as allocated by CDU Placement Office.
Students Commencing in Semester 2
The Recommended Study Plans provided below are suitable for domestic students commencing externally online in Semester 2 and enrolling in a standard FULL-TIME or PART-TIME load.
It is recommended students follow one of the recommended plans below.
- seek advice from the Course Coordinator if you need to deviate from one of the recommended plans; and
- always check the assumed knowledge and pre-requisite unit requirements for each unit as some 200 and 300 level units assume you have completed foundation unit/s in the subject area at a lower level. 200 level units have the unit code which includes a number starting with 200 i.e. NUR252.
- regularly check your academic progress in your CDU MyStudentInfo account.
| Legend: | CO = Core Unit | SE = Specialist Elective | PR = Practical Required |
2(a) FULL-TIME
NUR257 and NUR258 are co-requisites – students must enrol in both units for the same study period
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| CO | SBI171 Anatomy and Physiology 1 | CO | |
| CO | NUR133 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health | CO | |
| CO | NUR135 Primary Health Care (replaces NUR115 from 2021) | CO | |
| CO | NUR130 Introduction to Health and Wellbeing* | CO | |
| Year 2 | |||
| SBI172 Anatomy and Physiology 2 | CO | NUR256 Research and Evidence Based Practice | CO |
| NUR131 Professional Practice | CO | SBI242 Pharmacology for Clinical Practice | CO |
| NUR132 Communication for Person-centred Practice | CO | SBI241 Pathophysiology for Healthcare | CO |
| NUR134 Professional Experience Placement 1** | PR | NUR255 Challenges to Health and Wellbeing* | CO |
| Year 3 | |||
| NUR252 Digital Technology in Healthcare | CO | NUR366 Complex Care* (20cp) | CO |
| NUR257 Professional Experience Placement 2** | PR | NUR368 Global Health: Social Justice and Sustainability | CO |
| NUR258 Mental Health** (20cp) | PR | NUR369 Nursing Practice Project | CO |
| Year 4 | |||
| NUR367 Leadership for Nursing Practice | CO | ||
| NUR370 Professional Experience Placement 4** | PR | ||
| NUR410 Professional Experience Placement 5** (20cp) | PR | ||
* Simulation block: Students are required to attend a 32 hour (4 days) on-campus simulation block as a part of this unit.
** Work Integrated Learning: Students are required to attend the clinical placement hours as allocated by CDU Placement Office.
2(b) PART-TIME
NUR257 and NUR258 are co-requisites – students must enrol in both units for the same study period
| Semester 1 | Semester 2 | ||
| Year 1 | |||
| CO | SBI171 Anatomy and Physiology 1 | CO | |
| CO | NUR135 Primary Health Care (replaces NUR115 from 2021) | CO | |
| Year 2 | |||
| NUR131 Professional Practice | CO | NUR130 Introduction to Health and Wellbeing* | CO |
| SBI172 Anatomy and Physiology 2 | CO | NUR133 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health | CO |
| Year 3 | |||
| NUR132 Communication for Person-centred Practice | CO | NUR256 Research and Evidence Based Practice | CO |
| NUR134 Professional Experience Placement 1** | PR | SBI241 Pathophysiology for Healthcare | CO |
| Year 4 | |||
| NUR252 Digital Technology in Healthcare | CO | NUR255 Challenges to Health and Wellbeing* | CO |
| SBI242 Pharmacology for Clinical Practice | CO | ||
| Year 5 | |||
| NUR257 Professional Experience Placement 2** | CO | NUR366 Complex Care* (20cp) | CO |
| NUR258 Mental Health** (20cp) | PR | NUR369 Nursing Practice Project | CO |
| Year 6 | |||
| NUR367 Leadership for Nursing Practice | CO | NUR370 Professional Experience Placement 4** | PR |
| NUR368 Global Health: Social Justice and Sustainability | CO | ||
| Year 7 | |||
| NUR410 Professional Experience Placement 5** (20cp) | PR | ||
* Simulation block: Students are required to attend a 32 hour (4 days) on-campus simulation block as a part of this unit.
** Work Integrated Learning: Students are required to attend the clinical placement hours as allocated by CDU Placement Office.
Course fees
Commonwealth supported places
Commonwealth Supported places are available in this course to students who meet one of the following residency requirements:
(a) Australian Citizenship; or
(b) a New Zealand citizen or a permanent resident visa holder who will be resident within Australia for the duration of the unit.
2021: Information about fees and charges can be found at Fees and Payments.
2022: Fees and charges for 2022 will be published no later than 1 December 2021.
Domestic students - undergraduate studies
SATAC
UAC
If you do not meet any of the criteria above please visit Pathways to study to view the options available to you.